Denmark Look for greater protection from citizens in the face of Deepfakes. The Government and a broad representation of the parties of the Parliament have reached an agreement to give a preserve to the Digital imitations containing personal characteristics due to the growing difficulty of distinguishing between authentic and manipulated material.
Thus, the Danish government intends to modify the copyright law with the intention of providing greater guarantees. It will submit the proposal to public consultation before the end of summer, with a view to the amendments being approved for the end of this year.
The proposal also contemplates specific protection for artists
The changes that are aspired to include in the regulations mainly focus on strengthening citizens in Image rights and copyright about their own body, features and voice and provide greater protection against the dissemination of deepfakes without consent. In addition, it is contemplated Specific protection for artists Regarding the dissemination of realistic digital imitations of their artistic actions or representations without consent.
As they express from the Ministry of Culture, which leads the proposal, both protections aim to establish a clear legal basis that can be used by any person to Eliminate Deepfakes from digital platforms and social networks. “The standards are designed, mainly, to activate the Regulation on Digital Media Services that requires the storage media to take measures to eliminate illegal content”, Expose from the portfolio.
As explained, the breach of the proposed standards will not entail fines or prison sentences for the people who disseminate the content. However, a compensation according to the general norms of Danish civil law, depending on the circumstances. In addition, both the Supervisor Agency of the DSA (Digital Services Law) and the European Commission may impose sanctions if the medium does not comply with its obligations according to the regulation, including not responding to a complaint about illegal content.
The Ministry clarifies that the standards only apply in Denmark, and therefore, although the illegal content is eliminated from platforms in the country, it could still be available if these platforms are accessed from other countries.
The Government indicates that the application of the norm It will not affect parodies and satires traditional, which will continue to be allowed within the framework of freedom of expression.
With this proposal, the Danish government seeks to give limits to what it considers that it can be not only an issue that violates identity and privacy, but also A democratic problem. They argue that digitally manipulated versions of an image or video can generate a fundamental doubt, and even a completely wrong perception, about what is a true representation of reality.
“If the manipulated audio, video or image content includes false statements, or if an imitated person appears in a context far away from the situations with which it is normally associated, imitations can become, in the worst case, in a true democratic problem – especially considering the rapid diffusion of the content on the Internet on the Internet”, They expose.
Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Minister of Culture, considers that the agreement launches an unequivocal signal to citizens regarding the rights they have about their body, their voice and their facial features. It also considers that the proposal is a Disinformation barrier and a clear message for technological giants.
The Danish government considers the proposal as a barrier against misinformation
“I am glad that so many parties of Parliament want to help protect both artists and the common people from the theft of digital identity, something that can now be done with a few clicks”; He commented in a statement.“We cannot accept that human beings can be involved in a digital photocopier and used for any purpose”
“The false and illegal content must be eliminated from the Internet, and now we establish a legal basis that requires digital media to eliminate said content before it disseminates”; Peter Skaarup, Denmark Democrats spokesman, pointed out.That is a responsibility that great digital services must assume, and it seems completely reasonable”
However, some parties that are part of the agreement consider that it is necessary to go one step further and not limit themselves exclusively to eliminating the content of the platforms. From alternative they defend that it is also necessary to prevent such content from being believed first, and suggest a Effective regulation of AI platforms.
